Veterans of the Ozarks honored as Hometown Heroes

For Veterans of the Ozarks, serving those who served does not stop when the uniform comes off.

That continued commitment to veterans, and the community recently earned the organization recognition as a Hometown Hero through Modern Woodmen of America.

Wendy Youngblood, a local Modern Woodmen financial representative, presented the honor during a Veterans of the Ozarks membership meeting.

Modern Woodmen of America is a member-owned fraternal financial services organization with a strong emphasis on giving back to the communities it serves. Youngblood said that local focus is what makes the Hometown Hero recognition meaningful.

“We’re community driven and like to stay focused on our local communities,” Youngblood said. “The Hometown Hero recognition is our opportunity to recognize people who stand out because of what they do for others.”

The Hometown Hero program recognizes individuals or groups who have made important contributions to their communities, demonstrated exceptional bravery or gone above and beyond to positively impact the lives of others. Each chapter may recognize one Hometown Hero annually, with the honoree selecting a charity to receive a $100 donation.

For Youngblood, Veterans of the Ozarks stood out because its members not only serve fellow veterans but are involved in numerous efforts throughout the surrounding community.

“Veterans of the Ozarks has great leaders who are doing incredible work throughout our community,” Youngblood said. “Their members serve on local boards, provide honor guard services for veterans who have passed, support suicide prevention efforts and step in when a local veteran needs help, even if that means building a wheelchair ramp. Their service reaches into so many areas of our community that choosing the organization as a whole just made sense.”

Veterans of the Ozarks President David McAllister said the organization is honored and humbled to be named a Hometown Hero. With the recognition comes a $100 charitable contribution to an organization of the recipient’s choice, and Veterans of the Ozarks selected Wreaths Across America.

“This contribution will further our effort to cover the graves of veterans that lie in the Joseph Philibert and Nickerson cemeteries in Kimberling City with wreaths this Christmas season,” McAllister said.